To the portrait

Jacob Polonsky wrote a fine poem “To the portrait”. Here it is in English:

She smiled expressing love.
Her thoughts were shades of sorrow.
She died, she closed her eyes
Unfortunately, long ago.
But beauty of this girl
Was saved by this great painter.
Borovikovsky’s work is lyrical, romantic.
We see her soul and body,
And can’t resist admiring.
Indifferent descendants
Will be attracted-charming!
She die, she closed her eyes
Unfortunately, long ago.
But look! She’s telling us:
“Keep silence, suffer, love,
Forgive! You can! I know!”

(Vladimir Borovikovsky. Portrait of Maria Lopukhina)
Translated by I. G. Krikunova

***
Она давно прошла, и нет уже тех глаз,
И той улыбки нет, что молча выражали
Страданье – тень любви, и мысли – тень печали.
Но красоту ее Боровиковский спас.
Так часть души ее от нас не улетела,
И будет этот взгляд и эта прелесть тела
К ней равнодушное потомство привлекать,
Уча его любить, страдать, прощать, молчать.

В. Боровиковский